Chapter II: , from the archives of Carlisle Cathedral, which have not

hitherto been brought before the public, but of which the author has been allowed free use, through the courtesy of the librarian. These are of special value, from the long connection of the Manor of Horncastle with the See of Carlisle.

In other cases the author has been allowed the privilege of more private testimony; for instance, his old friend, the late Mr. John Overton (of a highly respectable family, for generations connected with the town and county), has most kindly given him the use of various family MS. notes, bearing on parish and other matters. Mr. Henry Sharp has freely assisted him with most varied information, derived from long years of connection with the town, in public or private capacity. The late Mr. Henry Boulton, ancestrally connected with various parts of the county, was remarkable for a mind stored with memories of persons and things, in town and neighbourhood, which he freely communicated to the author, who saw much of him in his later years. While, last but not least, the late Mr. William Pacey, whether in his "Reminisences of Horncastle," which he contributed to the public newspapers, or in his personal conversations, which the present writer enjoyed for many years, yielded up to him treasure, collected by an indefatigable student of local lore, who entered into such work _con amore_.

To all these the author would now fully, and gratefully, acknowledge his indebtedness; but for them this work could not have been produced in anything like its present fulness. In some of the matters dealt with, as for instance in the accounts of the Grammar School, as well as in other portions, he may fairly say, in the language of "the pious AEneas" (slightly modified), "quorum pars (ipse) fui," (AEneid ii, 6); and in these he has drawn not a few of the details from his own recollections.

In stringing these records together, of such varied character, and on subjects so numerous, he cannot but be conscious that, in the endeavour to give all possible information, and to omit nothing of real interest, he may, on the other hand, have laid himself open to the charge of being too diffuse, or even needlessly prolix. Others not sharing his own interest in the subjects treated of, may think that he has occasionally "ridden his hobby too hard." If this should be the judgment of any of his readers, he would crave their indulgence out of consideration for the motive.

These are the days of historic "Pageants," drawn from life, and with living actors to illustrate them. We have also our "Gossoping Guides," to enable the tourist to realize more fully the meaning of the scenes which he visits. From both of these the author "has taken his cue." He had to cater for a variety of tastes; and while, for the general reader he has cast his discriptions in a colloquial, or even at times in a "gossoping," form, he believes that the old town, with its "Bull Ring," its "Maypole Hill," its "Fighting Cocks," its "Julian Bower," and other old time memories, can still afford _pabulum_ for the more educated student, or the special antiquary.

Like the composer of a Pageant play, his endeavour has been rather to clothe the scenes, which he conjures up, with the flesh and blood of quickened reality, than in the bare skin and bones of a dry-as-dust's rigid skeleton. How far he has succeeded in this he leaves to others to decide; for himself he can honestly say, that it has not been from lack of care, enquiry, or labour, if he has fallen short of the ideal aimed at.

[Picture: Signature of J. Conway Walter]

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I. PAGE

PART I--PREHISTORIC. Horncastle--its infancy 1

PART II--THE DIMLY HISTORIC PERIOD 3

CHAPTER II.

RECORDS OF THE MANOR, &c., FROM THE NORMAN CONQUEST 11

CHAPTER III.

ST. MARY'S CHURCH 33

CHAPTER IV.

THE CHURCH OF HOLY TRINITY 57

CHAPTER V.

NONCONFORMIST PLACES OF WORSHIP.

The Wesleyans 64

The Primitive Methodists 71

The Independents 77

The Baptist Chapel 84

The New Jerusalem Church 86

CHAPTER VI.

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS--THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL 91

CHAPTER VII.

WATSON'S FREE SCHOOL 108

THE LANCASTERIAN AND THE BELL SCHOOLS 111

THE SCIENCE AND ART SCHOOL 112

CHAPTER VIII.

THE DISPENSARY 119

CHAPTER IX.

THE CANAL 126

THE RAILWAY 130

CHAPTER X.

WORKHOUSE OR UNION 133

THE COURT HOUSE 135

THE STANHOPE MEMORIAL 136

THE CLERICAL CLUB 137

THE MECHANICS' INSTITUTE 139

THE CORN EXCHANGE 140

THE WHELPTON ALMHOUSES 142

THE DRILL HALL 145

CHAPTER XI.

HORNCASTLE WORTHIES, &c. 151

ODDITIES 160

PUBLICHOUSES 161